Dialog Knockouts President’s Trophy 2023 – Semi Finals Preview

 St. Peter’s and Isipathana will be under pressure to reinforce their prowess

• Dual penultimate pendulum swingers at the Semis

As the penultimate paranoia of the Knockouts sink-in and haunt the last four standing, the Stage is set for a gripping weekend of two high-octane collisions at the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockout Tournament 2023.

With DSSCC, SACK and TCK all taking a bow, the onus of surviving the next battles lie on the remaining four teams. As each team vies to take the field with the premonition to die another day, each penalty opportunity will be eagerly swigged to stay ahead, and induce scoreboard pressure on the opposition. Coaching Staff of any School who have keenly followed this column, and actively pursued discipline in their coaching should benefit in turning the tides in their favour.

SF 1: Isipathana vs Zahira at Havelock Park on 2 Sep:

There is no doubt that the Isipathana Camp would have utilised the last two weeks to reflect upon the facts leading to their last two defeats, where they truly had the chances to inverse the results. Although they may have reassessed, recognised, and resolved those shortcomings, they may not choose to unveil them in this game, and let the Cat out of the Bag. Instead, they will opt to play their regular game of running circles around the Zahirians, and quite effectively as well.

The Zahirians may not have what it takes to restrain the absconding Road Runners, zipping in zigzag silhouettes of Green, because they miserably failed at the task against the comparatively slower, yet elusive Peterites. Therefore, playing the possession game is their only hope, although that doesn’t offer any guarantees of redemption. What could save them is the unwavering execution of their Forwards to repeatedly and precisely finish all of their attacking moves inside the Pathana 22. Every throw-in by the underdogs from inside the Pathana 10 must  yield 5 points or more, without failure. There is no provision for unforced errors this time, or time to catch a breath in this game. Stray slightly, and its game over for the Maradana Lads. Yet, they got what it takes to tear apart the Isipathana defence with their Forwards. They needn’t worry about the Final or overcoming the League Champs, for they shall become runners-up should they survive Saturday.

SF 2: St. Peter’s vs St. Joseph’s at Havelock Park on 3 Sep:

Joe-Pete Semi was what hearts desired, and is sure to lure every Josephian and Peterite who has been hiding behind LED Screens all those Moons, to gatecrash Havelock Sports Club even on a Sabbath day, with the ‘Pied Piper’ being the hashtag ‘Battle of the Saints’!

However, in the factual essence of Schools Rugby, this is the very encounter that encapsulates the battle of the Coaches, as stipulated in our very first ‘Teaser Column’. This isn’t the first time and it definitely won’t be the last, when the two juggernaut Coaches of Schools Rugby shall stumble on each other, on their way to supremacy. For those whose memory may have faded, here’s some interesting history. 

Although Isipathana College headed by Nilfer Ibrahim was unbeaten League Champs in 2016, Royal College Rugby that was moulded by Legendary Coach Sanath Martis had progressed to become extremely deadly with its undefendable rolling mauls, by the end of the League. Thus, the solitary obstacle between Isipathana and the President’s Trophy was Royal’s deadly Rolling Maul, which drove it to a point that it was inevitable for Nilfer to find a way to defeat it. After many sleepless nights and crushed Sheets, the Greens who have been previously thoroughly incapable of dealing with rolling mauls, were cleverly trained to diffuse almost every maul that was formed, to stamp a landslide conquest over Royal scoring 47-12 in that KO Final. This is possibly a reason why Royal College decided to stay clear of all future Knockouts, following the 2016 ordeal orchestrated by the mastermind of Nilfer Ibrahim.

In the most recent confrontation prior to the pandemic, when Nilfer was coaching Joes and Martis coaching Peter’s, the two teams met at the 2018 KO Final with Martis having the last laugh of being able to fox and edge out Joes 22-20, in a rather tight encounter to claim the Throne. Though they meet yet again this year at the Semis, the atmosphere is set to simulate the Final, and the drive to show ‘who’s Boss’ shall be epic!

Martis and his men have been primarily focusing on the running game this season, with some spectacular offloads and dummies executed at sheer pace that could baffle any wide-eyed defender. This key factor has enabled them to score Tries at will against most opponents. They also subtly and passively boast of being equipped with three-quarters on both sides of the touch line, which makes them even more lethal in their offensives. This structure amplifies their defending capabilities as well, which has forbidden any team from scoring more than two Tries against them.

Although the Peterites possess the physiques and skills to play a Forwards game, similar to that of Royal, they have been passive in that area since their first match. Although experts expected them to unleash their Forwards game at each critical encounter, they haven’t done it thus far. In fact, it would be quite dicey to debut the Forwards attacking game in a critical match, though Martis is highly capable of doing so. Nevertheless, the Peterites have proven that they have no problem in defending maul offensives employing numerous approaches, but have shown weakness in defending pick ‘n drives, even against lighter but strong opponents. For instance, Vidyartha scored two Tries against SPC, once using pick ‘n drive phases, and another utilising the rolling maul. 

Joes got exactly what the Doctor ordered to overpower their arch rivals. They have the colossal and mighty Forwards who could cut through the Peter’s defence like hot Knife through frozen Butter, which should be used as their primary attacking option. Should they decide to use their Backs to penetrate Peter’s, they’ll be just wasting their time for attacking, and stamina that should be reserved for defending. Joes should always refrain from kicking into SPC territory, but rather opt to find touch and gain territorial advancement. Repeated back and forth kicking enticed by SPC, is a cunning ploy to weaken the opposition’s defences.